Asian Current

Goa - the Sun, the Sand, and the Beach

Get ready to take a dip in the Arabian Sea this time. Walk along golden beaches, sometimes bustling with activity and sometimes serene, feel the warm caress of the sand under your naked feet, soak in the sun as much as you want and let the cool breeze from the Arabian Sea make life worth living. Welcome to Goa!

Goa is India’s second smallest state in terms of area (after Delhi) and the fourth smallest in terms of population. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the Konkan, and is bordered by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south. The Arabian Sea bounds it to the west. Panaji (Panjim) is the state’s capital, and Vasco-da-Gama (Vasco) its largest city.

Portuguese merchants first landed in Goa in the 15th century, and annexed it shortly after. The Portuguese colony existed for about 450 years, until it was successfully taken over by India in 1961.

Goa is internationally renowned for its beaches and is visited by hundreds of thousands of foreign and domestic tourists each year. In fact, Goa has become one of the most popular holiday destinations for travelers and tourists from the Occident. Take a walk along its almost unbroken 100 km coastline of beaches and you’ll see why. If the pleasure of the sheer walk doesn’t thrill you enough, take time to look around and you’ll be awed at the venerable cathedrals of the bygone era (in Old Goa) and remnants of Portuguese architecture, while sipping on some “Feni”, the locally produced alcoholic beverage made from cashew fruits.

Mention Goa to anyone who’s been there, and you’ll remind him of its warm, inviting, near-tropical beaches. And while the rest of Goa - its culture, food, inland scenery, and cities - are all well worth visiting, Goa’s beaches are what makes it one of India’s major tourist attractions, attracting an officially-estimated 2 million visitors each year. “Palolem” is Goa’s southernmost beach, about 35 miles south of Panaji. The beach is strikingly beautiful with its white sand on a blue bay hemmed in by two headlands. Locals will offer to take you out in small boats to watch the dolphins. Believe me, it’s worth it!

If you’re looking for more solitude, the lonely beach of “Agonda”, just north of Palolem, is an excellent choice. It is edged by palms and casuarinas, with a large hill sitting to the south.

Among the safest beaches for swimming is the “Bogmolo” Beach, just south of Panaji. Interestingly, it was among the first of Goa’s beaches to be discovered by tourists.

Goa has a unique blend of cultural diversities with a charming East-West mix. Bulk of the visitors you’ll find in Goa are from different parts of India, but the quarter-million from abroad have an influential role to play because of their spending capacity. Among the foreign visitors, and increasingly among a section of young visitors from India, Goa is currently renowned for its electronic music parties and of course, the plethora of enjoyable activities on its beaches.